Coin changer for an automatic vending machine with automatic refilling of the coin magazine



Dec. 10, 1968 M. MELON] 3,415,256

COIN CHANGER FOR AN AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE WITH AUTOMATIC REFILLINGOF THE COIN MAGAZINE Filed Aug. 9, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l IAJVENTORMARI'O Neda/u;

M. MELONI Dec. 10, 1968 3,415,256 WITH COIN CHANGER FOR AN AUTOMATICVENDING MACHINE AUTOMATIC REFI'LLING OF THE COIN MAGAZINE 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Aug. 9, 1967 Int Ema Man/o Ne Lo;

United States Patent 3,415,256 COIN CHANGER FOR AN AUTOMATIC VENDEIGMACHINE WITH AUTOMATIC REFILLING OF THE COIN MAGAZINE Mario Meloni,Bern, Switzerland, assignor to Autelca A.G., Gumligen, Bern,Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Filed Aug. 9, 1967, Ser. No.659,356 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Aug. 12, 1966, 11,771/66 9 Claims. (Cl. 133-2) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A coin changer foran automatic vending machine with automatic refilling or loading of thecoin magazine, where in said coin magazine is provided with a forwardlyand rearwardly stepwise rotatable magazine plate for each coindenomination. The stepwise rotatable magazine plate includes meansproviding a rim of uniformly distributed coin compartments, each ofwhich is adapted to receive a coin. Further, the invention contemplatesthe provision of drive means for forwardly rotatably indexing themagazine plate through one coin compartment before receiving a coin froma coin deposit channel and for rearwardly rotatably indexing theaforesaid magazine plate through one coin compartment before the removalof a coin for transferring the latter to a coin return channel.

Baekground 0f the invention The present invention relates to an improvedcoin changer for use in automatic vending machines with automaticrefilling or loading of the coin magazine.

Prior art coin changing devices of this type provide for the coinmagazine a cylindrical chute for each coin denomination. The stackedcoins are removed from the bottom of the coin chute and filled into thetop thereof. However, experience has shown that such type coin chutespossess the drawback that the inserted coins sometimes fail to properlylie upon the coins situated there-beneath. This can result in jamming ofthe coins during coin removal.

Summary of the invention Accordingly, it is a primary object of thepresent invention to provide an improved apparatus of the mentioned typewhich effectively overcomes the previously considered drawbacks of theprior art structures.

Another, more specific object of the present invention relates to animproved coin changer for an automatic vending machine which isrelatively simple in construction, economical to manufacture, extremelyeasy to operate, and highly reliable in its operation, particularlypreventing against jamming of the coins in the apparatus.

Now, in order to implement these and still further objects of theinvention, which will become more readily apparent as the descriptionproceeds, and in particular to prevent the afore-mentioned drawback ofjamming of the coins, the inventive coin changer effectively overcomessuch disadvantage in that, the coin magazine is provided with aforwardly and rearwardly stepwise rotatable magazine plate for each coindenomination. This stepwise rotatable magazine plate includes meansproviding a rim of substantially uniformly distributed coincompartments, each of which is adapted to receive a coin. Further, thereis provided drive means for forwardly rotatably indexing the magazineplate through one coin compartment before receiving a coin from a coindeposit channel and for rearwardly rotatably indexing such magazineplate through one coin compartment before ice the removal of a coin fortransferring the latter to a coin return channel.

A further advantage of the inventive coin changer resides in the featureof returning the same coin which the customer has inserted into thevending machine in the event that the sale is not consummated.

Brief description of the drawings The invention will be betterunderstood, and objects other than those set forth above, will becomeapparent, when consideration is given to the following detaileddescription thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexeddrawings wherein FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a preferredembodiment of inventive coin changer;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the coin depositchannel of the coin changer of FIG- URE 1, taken along the line IIIIthereof;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a detail of thearrangement shown in FIGURE 2, taken along the line III-III thereof;and.-

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the coin changer depicted inFIGURE 1, taken along the line IVIV thereof, and showing details of thecoin transfer mechanism for transferring coins from the coincompartments of the magazine plate into a surplus coin removal channel.

Description of the preferred embodiment Prior to considering in detailthe herein depicted exemplary embodiment of inventive coin changerdevice, it should be understood that in order to preserve clarity inillustration and conciseness and accuracy in presentation, only enoughof the physical structure thereof has been depicted in the drawings andwill be considered more fully hereinafter, to enable one skilled in theart to fully comprehend the underlying concepts of the inventive subjectmatter.

Accordingly, turning attention now to the drawings, it should beunderstood that the coin magazine M of the inventive coin changer Cdepicted in FIGURE 1, possesses a rotatable magazine plate 1 for eachcoin denomination or type. Each rotatable magazine plate 1 is providedwith a rim 50 of uniformly distributed coin compartments 2, each ofwhich is capable of receiving a respective coin 3. More precisely, themagazine plate 1 possesses a trough 4 extending along its outer rim 51.Intermediate Walls or partitions 5 are arranged radially above theperipheral trough 4 in order to form the coin compartments 2. As bestshown by referring to FIGURE 4, a suitable, schematically depicted drivemechanism 53 engages with a gear or toothed rim 6 of the magazineplate 1. This drive mechanism or drive means 53 serves to stepwise orincrementally drive the associated magazine plate 1 in the one or otherdirection of rotation. The direction of rotation indicated by arrow 7can be conveniently considered as the forward direction of rotation orindexing of the magazine plate 1, and the opposite direction then wouldbe the rearward direction of rotation or indexing of such magazineplate.

A coin deposit mechanism D, a coin return mechanism R and a surplus coinremoval mechanism S are operably associated with the magazine plate 1,and the details of which will be fully considered hereinafter. Broadlyspeaking, however, the coin deposit mechanism D serves to control theproper depositing of the inserted coins into the individual coincompartments 2 of the magazine plate 1, the coin return mechanism Rserves to return the proper change or to return the inserted coins,whereas the surplus coin removal mechanism S serves to collect the coinsout of the coin compartments 2 when the latter are filled with coins, sothat there are always provided empty coin compartments 2 capable ofreceiving further coins.

Considering now the coin deposit mechanism D in greater detail, it willbe recognized that Such embodies a coin deposit channel 8 into which theinserted and checked coins fall. As best shown by inspecting FIGURE 2, alever 9 normally extends into the confines of the coin deposit channel 8and when contacted by a coin located in the deposit channel 8, such asthe depicted coin 37, this lever member 9 is displaced so as to actuatea suitable switch 10, for reasons to be expounded upon more fullyhereinafter. Furthermore, at the location of the lever member 9 ofFIGURE 2 there is also arranged a rotary slide member 11 which can beactuated, for instance, electromagnetically. This rotary slide member 11or equivalent structure is equipped with two tongue members 12 and 13which are elevationally displaced from one another, as shown. In thedepicted rest position of the rotary slide member 11 the lower tonguemember 12 extends through the opening 12a provided at the coin depositchannel 8 into the path of travel of the coins therethrough. On theother hand, when the rotary slide member 11 is actuated then the uppertongue member 13 extends through the opening 13a provided at the coindeposit channel 8 and into the aforementioned path of travel for thecoins.

Continuing, it is to be understood that the coin return mechanism R andthe surplus coin removal mechanism S are of similar construction andsupported by a stationary frame member 14. Two bearing blocks 15 and 16are supported upon the frame member 14. Further, two rod members 17 and18 are mounted to be longitudinally displaceable at these bearing blocks15 and 16. A respective rotary arm member 19 and 20 of the rotarymagnets 21 and 22, respectively engages with the one respective end 17aand 18a of the rod members 17 and 18 respectively, whereas at theopposite respective end 1712 and 18b of these rod members 17 and 18,respectively, there engages a return spring 23 and 24, respectively. Arespective slide member 25 and 26, each having a downwardly depending ordirected finger 27 and 28, respectively, is secured to each rod member17 and 18 respectively. Upon actuation of the associated rotary magnet21 or 22 the slide member 25 or 26, respectively, displaces a coinlocated in the coil compartment 29 or 30, respectively, into theopposite confronting opening 31a or 32a of the coin return channel 31 orthe surplus coin removal channel 32 respectively. Spacer sleeves 33, 35and 34, 36 limitthe movement of the slide members 25 and 26respectively. It should be apparent from the foregoing discussion thatthe components designated with the uneven reference numerals 17 to 35form the coin return mechanism R and the components designated with theeven reference numerals 18 to 36 form the surplus coin removal mechanismS.

The openings 8a, 31a and 32a of the coin deposit channel 8, the coinreturn channel 31 and the surplus coin removal channel 32, respectively,and which face the rim 50 of coin compartments 2, are mutually displacedfrom one another by the spacing between each two neighboring coincompartments 2. As a result, during the stepwise forward rotation of themagazine plate 1 each coin compartment 2 is initially situated oppositethe opening 32a of the surplus coin removal channel 32, then oppositethe opening 31a of the coin return channel 31, and finally opposite theopening 8a of the coin deposit channel 8.

Finally, it is mentioned that for each coin denomination or type thereis provided a coin changer device of the aforedescribed and illustratedtype, having a magazine plate as well as coin deposit mechanism and coinremoval mechanism, wherein the components forming the complete coinchanger are preferably arranged in superimposed fashion, that is, aboveone another.

The mode of operation of the heretofore described coin changer is asfollows:

An inserted or deposited coin 37 arrives from above in the coin depositchannel 8 and actuates the switch 10 through the agency of the levermember 9. Initially, the deposited coin 37 remains trapped at the tonguemember 12 of the rotary slide 11. Any further coin 38 which may beinserted is stacked upon the first coin 37, in the position andarrangement depicted in FIGURE 2. Actuation of the switch member 10causes the drive mechanism 53 to rotatably index in forward directionthe magazine plate 1 by one coin compartment 2. As a result, the coin 40located in the coin compartment designated by reference numeral 39 ismoved away, and the empty trailing coin compartment 29 arrives in frontof the discharge opening 8a of the coin deposit channel 8. Now, as soonas the magazine plate 1 has completed this rotatable indexing step, thenthe tongue member 12 beneath the coin 37 is retracted owing to actuationof the rotary slide 11. Coin 37 thus falls downwardly through the coindeposit channel 8 and into the empty coin compartment 29 of the magazineplate 1. Due to the actuation of the rotary slide 11 the tongue member13 is previously displaced beneath the second coin 38, so that thelatter is temporarily fixedly retained in its position. Thereafter, therotary slide 11 turns back into its rest position with a smalltime-delay, whereupon the coin 38 drops onto the tongue member 12.Thereafter, the described deposit in the coin magazine M again repeats.

As soon as all of the coin compartments 2 of a coin plate 1 are filledwith coins 3, then these coins are removed one after the other from themagazine plate 1 by the aforementioned surplus or excess coin removalmechanism S. The removed coins are transferred through the surplus coinchannel 32 into an appropriate non-illustrated collecting box orcontainer. To this end, upon the completion of each forward rotatableindexing step of the magazine plate 1, the rotary magnet 22 of thesurplus coin removal mechanism S is actuated in order to actuate theslide member 26. As clearly shown by inspecting FIGURES 1 and 4, thefinger member 28 of the slide member 26 ejects the coin 41 which is inthe coin compartment 30 and transfers such coin into the surplus coinremoval channel 32. In this manner, it is insured that each coincompartment which is situated opposite the opening 31a of the coinreturn channel 31 is empty and after being indexed one step in theforward direction of rotation can again receive a coin.

The return of a coin from the coin magazine M, and which can becontrolled by the venting machine or by actuating a suitable coin returnknob or le-ver, takes place in the manner that, initially the drivemechanism 53 rearwardly rotates the magazine plate 1 by one coincompartment. Consequently, the coin 40 which is disposed in the coincompartment 39 of FIGURE 1 arrives in front of the opening 31a of thecoin return channel 31. As soon as this rotatable indexing step iscompleted the finger member 27 of the slide member 25, actuated by theretary magnet 21, displaces the coin 40 into the coin return channel 31which guides this coin 40 to a suitable coin return slot or trayprovided at the vending machine.

While there is shown and described a present preferred embodiment of theinvention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practicedwithin the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A coin changer for an automatic vending machine with automaticrefilling of the coin magazine comprising:

( l) a coin magazine;

(2) a forwardly and rearwardly stepwise rotatable magazine plate foreach coin denomination provided for said coin magazine, said stepwiserotatable magazine plate including means providing a rim of uniformlydistributed coin compartments each adapted to receive a coin;

(3) means defining a coin deposit channel for delivering coins to saidcoin compartments;

(4) means defining a coin return channel for the return of coins; and

(5) drive means for forwardly rotatably indexing said magazine platethrough one coin compartment before receiving a coin from said coindeposit channel and for rearwardly rotata bly indexing said magazineplate through one coin compartment before the removal of a coin fortransferring the latter to said coin return channel.

2. A coin changer as defined in claim 1, wherein said coin depositchannel and said coin return channel each possess a respective openingdisposed in confronting relation with respect to said rim of uniformlydistributed coin compartments, said respective openings of said coindeposit channel and said coin return channel being spaced from oneanother by substantially the amount of the spacing between each twoneighboring coin compartments, so that each coin compartment duringforward rotation of said magazine plate is initially disposed oppositesaid opening of said coin return channel and thereafter is disposedopposite said opening of said coin deposit channel.

3. A coin changer as defined in claim 1, further including meansdefining a surplus coin removal channel, and means for the removal ofcoins from said magazine plate and for transferring the removed coins tosaid surplus coin removal channel, said coin removal means beingoperable after each rotatable forward indexing of said magazine plate.

4. A coin changer as defined in claim 3, said coin removal meansincluding an axially displaceable rod member, a slide having a dependingcoin-engaging finger carried by said rod member, and means forselectively displacing said rod member.

5. A coin changer as defined in claim 4, said displacing means for saidrod member incorporating a rotatable magnet.

6. A coin changer as defined in claim 3, wherein said coin depositchannel and said coin return channel each possess a respective openingdisposed in confronting relation with respect to said rim of uniformlydistributed coin compartments, said surplus coin removal channel beingprovided with an opening confronting said rim of uniformly distributedcoin compartments, said opening of said surplus coin removal channelbeing disposed at the side of said opening of said coin return channelwhich is facing away from said opening of said deposit channel, saidopening of said surplus coin removal channel being spaced from saidopening of said coin return channel by substantially the amount of thespacing between each two neighboring coin compartments.

7. A coin changer as defined in claim 1, further including means forselectively transferring a coin from a coin compartment to said coinreturn channel.

8. A coin changer as defined in' claim 7, said coin transferring meansincluding an axially displaceable rod member, a slide having a dependingcoin-engaging finger carried by said rod member, and means forselectively displacing sa-id rod member.

9. A coin changer as defined in claim 8, said displacing means for saidrod member incorporating a rotatable magnet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 755,279 3/1904 Dement 133-21,245,472 11/1917 Lattig et a1 l332 X 1,515,549 11/1924 Chick l33-l2,251,755 8/1941 Peters 1332 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

